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You can homeschool in less than 2 hours per day

When someone first envisions homeschooling, the first thought is often a family replicating the school environment at home. Lessons start promptly at 8:30am, with children working studiously around the kitchen table until a break for lunch at noon. After the lunch break, lessons continue until 2:30pm. Then the homeschool day is over. But, for a large and growing number of …

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I don’t play with my kids. Here’s why.

“Mama, will you play on the train with me?” my daughter asked, lining up the dining chairs to form a line of seats. “Sure! Where’s my seat on the train?” I responded, thinking we were about to engage in some good, old-fashioned pretend play together. This is what childhood is supposed to be all about, right? “You can sit riiiight …

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Family bed inspiration: Twelve gorgeous bedrooms

Have you ever wanted to set up a family bed, but worried you couldn’t pull it off without an interior design fiasco? Do you want to take your mattress off the bed frame, but don’t want to look like you’re sleeping in a junkyard? We’ve gathered up a dozen pictures of beautiful family beds for eye candy and inspiration. 1. …

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From Gigs To Grocery Shopping Alone

Remember those pre kid things you did? The things that made you feel alive and free? I used to love sifting through op shops, going to gigs, travelling, and one of my all time favourites, drinking wine and eating chocolate while my housemates and I gave one another epic long massages. And I did them all without the slightest inkling …

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Giveaway #1: $50 Milk & Baby Gift Certificate

Welcome to day 1 of our 5 day giveaway celebrating our upcoming milestone of 1,000 followers on Facebook! Thank you to all of our Pebbles community for standing by our side and opening your hearts to our journey! Our first mama-run business feature is Milk & Baby.

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I teach at a university and I unschool my kids

I’ve been in school almost my entire life. I started preschool shortly before turning 3. I started elementary school at age 6. I followed the standard path through middle school and high school and then went directly to college. After college I earned two Master’s degrees and then a PhD. Even after that I didn’t want to leave. I now …

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How we found balance with screen time

Like any 1980s child, I grew up watching TV. And not just the occasional commercial-free documentary for its educational content. We’re talking Looney Toons, Nickelodeon shows with the apparent sole purpose of broadcasting green slime dumped on people’s heads, and the same Disney movies hundreds of times over. It was fun. Sometimes it was boring. I believe it was referred …

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Mourning The End Of The Breastfeeding Relationship

  I metaphorically stand up here today, shaking in my boots, to share my journey of breastfeeding my son until he was done. The Internet can be both a wonderful and terrible place for breastfeeding moms. We can find bands of women who offer us unconditional acceptance and support; who offer us knowledge and wisdom. Unfortunately, the Internet also offers …

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Raising a new generation to drive out hate with love

More shootings. More tragedy. More victims. More lives lost. More shattered families. It’s exhausting. It’s infuriating. There is a place for those feelings. There is a place for anger. We should be angry about the loss of life. We should be angry about violence happening again and again in our communities. We should use this anger to galvanize ourselves into …

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Beyond normalizing breastfeeding: normalizing childhood

Have you ever hesitated to travel by air with a baby? The idea of it strikes fear into the heart of many parents. “What if the baby cries?!” You’re stuck on an airplane with hundreds of other people. What will they think? Have you ever hesitated to take a toddler to a restaurant? Making dinner every. single. night. is exhausting …